MONROE, NJ–On Sunday night, GMC Hoops traveled down to the Monroe Sports Center for the finale of the 2016 MSC Fall League. South River was in action against FINCC. The Rams got off to a great start by scoring 8 of the first 12 points over a six minute span, and then putting together a 15-4 tear over nearly the next 8 minutes for a 23-8 lead.
FINCC battled back though to pull within six late in the half, and trailed by eight at the break. The game continued to be close after that as FINCC opened the second half on a 12-4 tear, and stayed within striking distance until rallying from a 51-45 deficit with a 16-9 run including a three with 11 seconds left, and then a steal for a layup attempt that resulted in a foul and one of two fro the line with six seconds to go for a 61-60 win.
Derrick Whitaker, Jayvon Taylor, Travis Thomas, and Zac Rafano stood tall in defeat for the Rams, which ended the fall at 3-5. FINCC finished up at 2-6. Below are game notes from some of the action:
First Half
14:00–Arrive with SR leading 8-4.
6:12–SR–leads FINCC 23-10. Rams had a 15-4 run for a 15 point lead that included a three pointer and a putback by Derrick Whitaker. FINCC just scored to close the gap to a baker’s dozen.
3:48–SR–calls timeout after FINCC puts together a 7-1 spurt to narrow the deficit to 24-15.
0:00–SR–leads 35-27 lead after Travis Thomas connected on a floater in the paint in the closing seconds. Prior to that, FINCC had ended the half on a 12-9 run to pull within six points.
Second Half
16:10–SR–timeout–follows a putback by Jayvon Taylor for a 41-39 lead. FINCC opens the second half with a 12-4 spurt. Taylor had a layup while Whitaker also scored for the Rams during the FINCC spurt.
9:34–SR leads FINCC 51-45. Rams have been on a 12-6 run including a score by Derrick Whitaker and a bucket by Zac Rafano.
0:32–SR–timeout–follows a steal for a layup by FINCC that caps a 12-7 run and closes the gap to 58-57. Travis Thomas had a bucket earlier to give South River some breathing room.
0:26–SR–takes a 60-57 lead on two free throws by Derrick Whitaker.
0:11–FINCC–sinks a three pointer to tie the game at 60-60.
0:06–FINCC–timeout follows a steal and then a foul on a layup attempt–after the timeout–FINCC makes one of two from the line for a 61-60 lead.
0:00–Game just ended with FINCC winning 61-60. SR had a chance to win, but wasn’t able to get a shot off in the closing seconds.